I'm back with questions about GERD

[jlbattin]

Hello Friends,

I know it's been awhile since I've logged in, but I came back to search out info on GERD and heartburn today. For the last several days or so, I haven't felt very good and in this day and time you always wonder if it's COVID or something else. However, I'm pretty sure it's not COVID or flu and is my GERD creeping back in and so I searched the boards and read for awhile today to see what I needed to do. I am feeling full all the time and not wanting to eat much and was feeling like everything was up in my throat. Other than the heart burny feeling and throat, I've had some diarrhea which has been unusual. I am still gluten, dairy, and soy free, but I'm wondering if I've been eating too many carbohydrates. I love that Simple Truth almond milk ice cream and I think I have over indulged. I've also gotten kind of lax about taking my vitamins twice a day like I need to so I'm probably not getting all the vitamin D3 and magnesium I need. Otherwise, I can't figure out what caused it to creep back in. I have had no issues for over 5 years since I was initially diagnosed. I've been sipping on warm water with apple cider vinegar in it. I've upped all my vitamins: D3, magnesium, and zinc. Are there any other things I could do or should do? I'm not going to take a PPI . I did take some Mylanta to try to help right away.

There is also a little bit of stress involved which is also why I haven't been back on the board for quite some time. Long story short, I found my husband in June of 2020 one morning in a catatonic state (he couldn't talk to me; he couldn't walk; I thought he'd had a stroke). I called 911 and they took him to the hospital. He bounced back pretty quickly and they ran myriads of tests and finally were able to diagnose him with limbic encephalitis. He's fine today although he's not had the treatment he needs because we've had to fight insurance. He has some memory issues and just recently got approved for social security disability. Anyway, that was just a side note to add that I do have some stress but I don't know if it's anymore than usual.

Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well, and I hope to get back here a little more often now. I look forward to any hints you have for GERD and heartburn.

[tex]

Hi Jari,

Sorry to hear that you're having problems with Gerd. It can be an insidious problem that's tough to resolve, as I'm sure you know. Your symptoms surely hold the clues if we can just interpret them correctly. Your feeling of fullness, for example sounds like paresthesia (delayed emptying of the stomach), and that's often caused by a chronic magnesium deficiency. The feeling that everything is up in your throat, however, could be caused by a hiatal hernia. The symptom is caused by the top part of the stomach working its way up through the tear in the diaphragm, forming an enlarged pocket that retains food.

To check that out, the next time it occurs, try the old home remedy of drinking a glass of warm water (to add weight to your stomach) standing on your tiptoes, like a ballerina, and suddenly dropping your heels back down to the floor, to see if the jolt will pull your stomach back down below the diaphragm opening, to resolve the symptom. You might have to repeat it a time or 2 to get the job done. Be sure you're standing on a carpeted floor, or a cushioned mat, when you do that, though, or you might bruise your heels.

I know virtually nothing about limbic encephalitis, however, I note that it's an autoimmune disease, and as we all know, autoimmune diseases are caused by chronic inflammation. I didn't bother to look for any published medical research that might apply, because as far as I'm aware, researchers have never bothered to investigate an association between food sensitivities and autoimmune diseases. But I can't help but wonder if your husband's limbic encephalitis might be due to one or more food sensitivities that have gone undetected. A stool test at EnteroLab might yield enlightening results.

I hope some these rambling comments will be helpful.

Tex

[jlbattin]

Tex,

It's great to hear from you! I hope you're staying well. I remember from the last time that GERD was a mess to get under control. But the few things I did yesterday did seem to help a lot. I did that exercise yesterday that you described because I remembered that it worked well the last time and it did help! I am back on my vitamin regimen and will not forget to take them. I'm pretty sure I have a magnesium deficiency. I will keep plugging away.

As far as my husband, no idea how it's caused. Could be some kind of an insect or various other things. It's a relative new disease so they are making the rules and the treatments as they go along. It's certainly be a life change for us though with him not working. We've adjusted though.

Thanks for your response.

[Marcia K]

Hi, Jari. I'm sorry that your husband has health issues and I hope he is soon able to get the treatment that he needs. I don't have any suggestions for GERD, but it's nice to see you on here again.

[brandy]

Hi Jari,

Eat smaller meals. Have your last meal of the day around 4:00.

Best wishes, Brandy

PS, try to avoid the meds--the PPI's. I think long term use contributed to Mom's alzheimers.